Summary Information
- Having circulatory problems increases the risk of subsequent heart attacks and strokes
- Statins and ezetimibe lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, and this benefits people who have survived a heart attack or stroke. Everyone in this study will be given LDL-lowering treatment
- Niacin raises HDL (good) cholesterol but side-effects include flushing of the skin
- ER niacin/laropiprant contains extended release niacin combined with laropiprant to reduce the flushing, and make the niacin easier to take.
- Half of those taking part in the study will be given active ER niacin/laropiprant and half will be given a dummy (placebo) version. Neither you nor your doctors will know which, and this will be decided randomly (like tossing a coin)
- The purpose of HPS2-THRIVE is to find out whether raising HDL cholesterol with ER niacin/laropiprant prevents heart attacks and strokes in people with circulatory problems who are already on treatment to lower LDL-cholesterol
- If ER niacin/laropiprant is shown to be safe and effective for people with circulatory disease, then its widespread use could lead to the prevention of many thousands of heart attacks and strokes and the saving of many lives
- With your help we can answer this question reliably with HPS2-THRIVE
